Lagos CP Removes DPO For Detaining Lawyer Seeking Bail For His Client….as NBA members protest police brutality
By Ahmed Ajikobi
The Lagos State Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Gowon Estate Division, Austin Arase, has been removed for the alleged detaining of a lawyer who was seeking justice for his client.
SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police Public Relations Officers confirmed the removal in a statement on Wednesday, January 10.
According to Hundeyin, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, ordered the immediate removal of the officer from the division
He said this followed the conclusion of investigations into the allegations made against the DPO, as published in the media on January 4.
He said the DPO would be removed pending a review of his case by other supervisory authorities.
“The CP had earlier ordered a thorough investigation into the matter upon receipt of the publication.
“CP Fayoade has equally directed the OC Legal of the Command to initiate steps to reach out to the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos State Branch to enable a round table discussion.
“The meeting is towards preventing a recurrence of the avoidable incident and enhancing better Police-Lawyers relationship,” he said.
The spokesperson also said that the command would continue to uphold the rule of law and sanction any officer found wanting.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a Lagos-based lawyer, Olumide Sonupe, was hospitalized after detention by the police.
Sonupe was seeking the bail of his client at the Moshalashi Police Station in the Alimosho area of the state on December 30, 2023.
Meanwhile, members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ota Branch, on Thursday took to the streets to protest against brutality and harassment of lawyers while carrying out their professional duties.
Human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana was seen alongside the protesting lawyers who wielded placards with different inscriptions such as “Ota Bar Says: Police brutality of lawyers is a criminal offence,” and “Police brutality and harassment of lawyers carrying out their professional duties is an offence.”
The victim of Police brutality, Sonupe who is a Lagos-based legal practitioner was hospitalised after he was said to have been detained by the police while seeking the bail of his client at the Moshalashi Police Station in the Alimosho area of the state on December 30, 2023.
